Jaishankar highlights shared aspirations, self-reliance in India-Africa partnership
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar visited Ethiopia to strengthen India-Africa ties, emphasizing shared goals of self-reliance and industrialization. The partnership focuses on collaborative projects in infrastructure, technology, and capacity building, including new frontiers like AI and space exploration.
Why it matters
This highlights India's strategic push to deepen diplomatic and economic influence in Africa as a counterweight to global market pressures.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Friday (October 9, 2026) highlighted the historic India-Africa partnership, rooted in shared solidarity and a common pursuit of fairness, representation, and the freedom to shape their own future, while outlining key areas of cooperation between the two sides.
Mr. Jaishankar arrived in Ethiopia on Thursday (October 8, 2026) from Côte d’Ivoire on the final leg of his three-nation tour of African countries, which also included Ghana.
Addressing a gathering at the Adwa Memorial Museum in Addis Ababa, Mr. Jaishankar said the development visions of India and Africa emphasised industrialisation, which should not be denied by flooding markets with cheap goods or restricting market access.
He highlighted the robust trade and investment ties between India and African countries across sectors such as manufacturing, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, energy, mining, agriculture, infrastructure, financial services and information technology.
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